Rower Andrew Hodge is named Yorkshireman of the Year

Olympic gold medallist Andrew Triggs Hodge has been named Yorkshireman of the Year at the Dalesman Awards 2013.

The hero of London 2012, who picked up a gold during “Super Saturday”, was at Utopia, Broughton Hall, to receive the award on Sunday.

The inspirational rower won gold at both the 2008 and 2012 Games. He is also a double world champion.

Andrew, who was born in Aylesbury and grew up in Hebden, was joined at the ceremony by his wife, Eeke, and parents Peter and Liv.

He said: “I am truly honoured by the judges’ decision. I may not have been born in the Dales but it’s all I know and everything I take into my sport.”

After the ceremony he tweeted: “From Dales to Olympic glory and back home again!”

The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Dorothy Fairburn, who has clocked up more than 30 years’ service to the rural economy.

She is regional director of the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) and a trustee and vice-chairman of Clapham-based Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust.

Also honoured was Cavendish Pianos of Bolton Abbey – the only British manufacturer of pianos.

The company, founded by Adam Cox and his wife, Charlie, in 2012, was named Entrepreneur of the Year.

There was also recognition for Keelham Farm Shop, which is hoping to open a state-of-the-art outlet on the old Nicholas Smith site in Gargrave Road, Skipton.

Named Agricultural Business of the Year, the award-winning shop is run by third-generation farmers, brother and sister James and Victoria Robertshaw.

The original Keelham Farm Shop in Thornton, Bradford, has been going for 40 years and serves more than 8,000 customers a week.

The Young Achiever of the Year Award was given to siblings Louise and Sam Reed, of the Swaledale Cheese Company, who have battled adversity to take the company forward after the untimely death of both their parents, who founded and managed the dairy.

The revamped World of James Herriot won the Yorkshire Rural Tourism Award and the Ian McMillan New Writing Award was presented to Kit Peel, of Nidderdale.